IIT Kanpur led consortium - with partners from academia, industry, non-profit and government organisations - was awarded Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence on Sustainable Cities (Phase-1) by Ministry of Education in March 2024. The Center’s objective is ‘Forecasting and Modelling for Urban Sustainability’ with interventions focusing on 5 major tracks viz. air quality, energy, mobility, water and middleware for municipal functions, aligning with India’s commitment in Paris agreement. Digital twins coupled with AI analytics models in the Phase-1 will forecast and optimize parameters specific to each domain. These interventions not only enhance economic growth and public health but also showcase a holistic approach to societal impact, aligning with national priorities and reinforcing India dedication to combat climate change.